The world's largest beer festival opened Saturday in Munich, Germany. More than 6 million guests from around the world are expected to descend on the beer tents of Munich to celebrate the 16-day Oktoberfest extravaganza.
The first Oktoberfest was held more than 200 years ago to celebrate the wedding of the Bavarian Prince Ludwig on October 12,1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy royal event. Today, Oktoberfest is a global event that is celebrated all around the world.
Last year's visitors consumed almost 8 million two-pint (one-liter) mugs of beer. Aside from beer the visitors enjoy a wide variety of traditional food such as chicken, roast pork, grilled ham hock, potato or bread dumplings, cheese noodles along with such Bavarian delicacies as Obatzda (a spiced cheese-butter spread) and Weisswurst (a white sausage). Last year, the Oktoberfest guests ate around 522,000 roasted chickens, 125,000 sausages, 69,9000 pork knuckles and 118 oxen.
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A woman wearing traditional Bavarian clothes rides a fairground attraction Sept. 23 at the Theresienwiese Oktoberfest fair grounds in Munich. Andreas Gebert / AFP - Getty Images
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An actor performs Sept. 23 during the Oktoberfest parade in Munich. Michaela Rehle / Reuters
Revellers enjoy a ride at Munich Oktoberfest at the Theresienwiese on Sept. 22. Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
People crowd the fairground during the opening of the 179th Oktoberfest on Sept. 22 on the Theresienwiese in Munich. Frank Leonhardt / EPA
Party goers take a break Sept. 22 at the Munich Oktoberfest at the Theresienwiese. Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
A man in traditional Bavarian clothes wears a hat decorated with hops Sept. 22 prior to the opening of the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich. Matthias Schrader / AP
A man cheered on by a crowd pours a glass of beer over his own head Sept. 24 at Oktoberfest in Munich. Frank Leonhardt / EPA
A waitress carries beer mugs in the Hofbraeuhaus tent Sept. 22 after the opening of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in Munich. Matthias Schrader / AP
People crowd the 'Hacker-Festzelt' beer tent during the opening of the 179th Oktoberfest on the Theresienwiese in Munich. Frank Leonhardt / EPA
Two women arrive for the opening of the famous Bavarian Oktoberfest beer festival Sept. 22 as rain falls in Munich. Matthias Schrader / AP
Revellers reach out for the first beer in the traditional one-liner "Masskrug" beer mugs at the opening day of the Munich Oktoberfest on Sept. 22 at the Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany. Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
A waitress carries 12 steins of beer after the opening of Oktoberfest. Michael Dalder / Reuters
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People in traditional Bavarian clothes take a break after the Oktoberfest parade in Munich on Sept. 23. Michael Dalder / Reuters
Girls in traditional Polish costume pose after participating in the opening parade. Johannes Simon/Getty Images
A little girl takes part in the Oktoberfest folklore parade. Matthias Schrader / AP
The bad weather on the festival's opening weekend didn't impact turnover. AFP
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A couple in traditional Bavarian attire kiss on the opening day of Oktoberfest. EPA/KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND
People rest on a meadow Sept. 23 during the 179th Oktoberfest in Munich. Michael Dalder / Reuters
Visitors wearing traditional Bavarian clothes wait during the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese in Munich. Christof Stache / AFP - Getty Images
A member of a riflemen's association wears a traditional Bavarian Gamsbart hat during the riflemen's parade on day two of the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich. Johannes Simon / Getty Images
A general view of the Oktoberfest beer festival Sept. 22 in Munich. Matthias Schrader / AP
The fairground is seen from the giant ferris wheel at dusk. Johannes Simon / Getty Images
A fairground ride spins at the festival. Felix Hoerhager/EPA
Young people celebrate the opening ceremony in the "Hofbraeuzelt' beer tent on Sept. 22. Matthias Schrader / AP
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